Overall I like this issue. I must say I'm intrigued by 2 ads.The first is the new stereophile CD; this looks good! However I can't find it on this site yet under e commerce like the ad said. No matter; I can wait. The other ad was for Zenph. Very interesting concept! I may just buy a copy. The question I have is about the article on Orrin Keepnews.In it it says that Monk's cabaret card had been revoked.Exuse my ignorance, but what was(is?) a cabaret card? Is that like a union card? Why was his revoked? I like some Jazz, but know little about it. Thanks for any help!

The cabaret card was the NYC license that allowed musicians to play before audiences in places that served drinks. Since that was where jazz was played, no musician who lacked one could have much of a career performing in NYC.

Monk's was revoked in 1951, when he and Bud Powell were in a car where narcotics were found when searched by NY police. Most jazz historians strongly suggest the drugs were Powell's, but Monk refused to testify to that effect and his card was revoked until he managed to get it restored in 1957.

For those crucial six years, Monk survived by composing, performing outside of NY, and occasionally staging concerts in theaters. It is frequently stated that Monk made money by recording during this period, but I suspect that has been overstated, considering that Keepnews managed to buy out his Prestige contract for $108.24.

Hope you enjoy the CD. It was my attempt as a classical recording engineer to record a mainly electric band as though they were an acoustic ensemble, with no equalization and no compression. I have a myriad of plugins for my DAW software -- I used none of them! As a result, the dynamic range is extreme, and the average level around 10dB quieter than a typical jazz CD. However, if you play this CD LOUD, it will reflect what you would have heard in the hall last February.

Hope you enjoy the CD. It was my attempt as a classical recording engineer to record a mainly electric band as though they were an acoustic ensemble, with no equalization and no compression. I have a myriad of plugins for my DAW software -- I used none of them! As a result, the dynamic range is extreme, and the average level around 10dB quieter than a typical jazz CD. However, if you play this CD LOUD, it will reflect what you would have heard in the hall last February.